Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Effective May 11, US Health and Human Services is lifting the National Public Health Emergency order. This decision was made based on continuous downward trends in hospitalization and death nationwide -- a trend that Virginia has followed as well.
Acting State Epidemiologist Dr. Laurie Forlano says that this change shouldn't have too much effect on Virginians' day-to-day lives. There will likely be less public testing services and differences in data collection on COVID numbers.
Dr. Forlano emphasized that, at this point, the best thing one can do to protect themselves against COVID is still via vaccination. There remains a significant disparity in COVID hospitalizations and deaths between vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
Dr. Forlano also recommends sourcing public health news from trusted sources, especially the Virginia Department of Health